Farm safety messages launched to rural schools across Northern Ireland

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched its 2022 ‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’ child farm safety calendar which delivers potentially lifesaving messages to children in over 430 rural primary, and special schools across Northern Ireland.

In June this year HSENI invited rural Primary School pupils (foundation, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2) and pupils from Special Schools in Northern Ireland to enter a poster competition highlighting common farm dangers. 12 winning hand drawn pictures were selected from over 2,750 entries with each ‘junior artist’ receiving a £30 gift card and having their picture included in the 2022 calendar.  

Launching the calendar at Irvinestown Primary School, Enniskillen, HSENI Chief Executive Robert Kidd said: “Farming continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations in Northern Ireland with 69 work-related fatalities in the ten years up to the end of last year. Tragically this includes three children under the age of 15.”

Over 43,000 copies of the calendar will be distributed exclusively to rural primary schools and special schools for children to take home.

Robert Kidd continued: “Our calendar competition continues to be a great way to deliver safety messages in an engaging way to children that will help form their approach to farm safety now and in the future.

“This year we had entries from 80 schools and I thank all the pupils, teachers, and our sponsors for helping us keep children safe on the farm.”

The calendar was sponsored by Farm Safety Partnership members and affiliates: Abbey Autoline, NFU Mutual, PowerNI, Ulster Farmers' Union, Northern Ireland Safety Group, CAFRE, and LANTRA.

For more information about child safety on farms visit: www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafety

Notes to editors: 

‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’ poster competition winners:

January        Joshua Armstrong, aged 9, Irvinestown PS, Enniskillen

February       Niamh Higgins, aged 10, Mary Queen of Peace PS, Glenravel

March           Michael McDonagh, aged 6, Lisanally Special School, Armagh

April              Conor Seain Grimley, aged 7, St Mary’s PS, Tassagh

May              Grace Quinn, aged 5, Millquarter PS, Moneyglass

June             Ryan Morrow, aged 10, Moat PS, Lisnaskea

July              Zoey Orr, aged 9, Bready Jubilee PS, Strabane

August          Sam Millar, aged 6, Irvinestown PS, Enniskillen

September    Isla Wilson, aged 6, Rasharkin PS, Rasharkin

October        Nicole Scott, aged 15, Beechlawn School, Hillsborough

November     Aoife Madden, aged 10, Millquarter PS, Moneyglass

December     Ava McGowan, aged 12, St Patrick’s PS, Burrenreagh

1. The winning entries which will feature in the 2022 Avoid Harm on the Farm calendar and are available to view at the link below:

• Child farm safety poster competition winners

2. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Department for the Economy.

3. For media enquiries please contact: HSENI Press office on 028 9024 3249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. Outside office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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